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Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
324
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF AUDIT REPORT TYPES ON THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Attila Tamas Szora1
ABSTRACT: Audits carried out in accordance with International Standards on Auditing or
International Standards on Review Engagements and procedures undertaken by the independent
auditor made under the International Standard on Related Services are two totally different
commitments in terms of the independent auditor to express an audit opinion on a report. What
happens when on these types of commitment a comparative analysis is performed to highlight the
strengths and weaknesses of each, and not least the need to inform the beneficiaries meeting report
issued by the independent auditor.
The empirical study presented aims to present, the context of an atypical commitment, a solution of the
type of mission which may be subject to a commitment by the auditor, studying comparatively the
relevant standards applicable or audit missions as appropriate, based on ISA 700 Formulating an
opinion and reporting on financial statements, ISA 800 Special considerations - Audits of financial
statements prepared in accordance with special purpose frameworks, ISA 600 Special considerations -
Audits of group financial statements (including the work of component auditors), ISRS 4400
Engagements to perform agreed-upon procedures regarding financial information and ISRE 2400
Engagements to Review Historical Financial Statements and highlighting of relevant information to
users.
Key words: consolidated financial statements, audit opinion, ISA 800, ISRS 4400, ISA 700
JEL Codes: M40, M41, M42,
Introduction
In an audit concluded between the external auditor and the Beneficiary of the Report depending
on the type of commitment (based on ISA 700 / ISA 800 or ISRS 4400) are highlighted minimal
elements that it must include. The letter of commitment, document regulated by the Chamber of
Financial Auditors of Romania, document which is the basis of an audit is different depending on the
content standard as governing mission.
Therefore, commitment concluded between the external auditor and the Beneficiary under ISRS
4400 Engagements to perform agreed-upon procedures regarding financial information has as
objective, to our case, preparing the synthetic consolidated financial statements with the highlighting
of some relevant information for users and submission to Beneficiaries of the Report on the
achievement of agreed procedures.
Because the procedures performed by the independent auditor is not an audit or a review made
in accordance with International Standards on Auditing or International Standards on Review
Engagements, in this mission is not expressed any assurance on the financial position and result of
exercise as of 31.12.2013.
1Lecturer., University „1 Decembrie 1918“ Alba Iulia, Financial Auditor, e-mail:[email protected]
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
325
In terms of the audit engagement agreement between the external auditor and the beneficiary,
the auditor's responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audit. This
will carry out the audit in accordance with ISA 800 Special considerations - audits of financial
statements prepared in accordance with special purpose frameworks and other applicable auditing
standards adopted by the Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania. They require that the auditor
comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. Also,“that auditors consider,
intuitively, qualitative factors besides the quantitative method when determining the materiality.
Highlighting these factors will allow for the transition from intuition to reason, with a positive impact
on the effectiveness of the auditing activity” (Irimie (Popa) Emil, et. al., 2013). The objective of this
engagement is auditing the consolidated financial statements of synthetic highlighting relevant
information for users and submission to beneficiaries of the audit report.
Research methodology
The purpose of the research is to highlight the differences between audit opinion resulting from
the audit engagement under ISA 700 Formulating an opinion and reporting on financial statements or
as the case ISA 800 Special considerations - audits of financial statements prepared in accordance with
special frameworks purpose and highlighting of relevant information to users, information audited by
an auditor and presented in a report issued under the International Standard on Related Services
('ISRS') 4400 Engagements to perform agreed-upon procedures regarding financial information, issued
by the International Federation of Accountants ("IFAC"). The opinion expressed in a report issued by
an external auditor is required to substantiate the Bank's lending decision of a group of companies.
In light of the investigative process that took place this paper is based on data interpretation
methods, so that it prevails the deductive approach from theory to practice, research inductive
interference consisting empirical study conducted at SC ALPHA SRL (the parent company) requesting
a loan from the bank, the credit is used and guaranteed jointly by the companies of a group of
companies among which there are, predominantly, affiliate relationships, and operational links. The
empirical study covers two consecutive financial years, exercises in which the commitment type is
based in the first year on ISRS 4400 and in the second year on ISA 800. Methods of analysis issues
temporal criterion consolidation process at a time, for the first fiscal year 31.12.2012 under ISRS 4400
and the second exercise 31.12.2013 under ISA 800, were predominantly longitudinal.
In terms of typology of the investigation, this paper is based on qualitative methods: theoretical
documentation through analysis and systematization of the literature, the study of legal and
professional rules main normative documents studied were the International Standard on Related
Services ('ISRS') 4400 Engagements to perform agreed-upon procedures regarding financial
information, ISA 800 Special considerations - audits of financial statements prepared in accordance
with special purpose frameworks and highlighting of relevant information to users, ISA 700
Formulating an opinion and reporting on financial statements, OMFP nr. 3055/2009 for Accounting
Regulations in accordance with European directives, user document analysis as a tool of qualitative
method - empirical study, which is to present individual financial statements and consolidation stages
of eliminating intra-group effects on the consolidated financial position and performance of the
consolidated entity, and synthesis found in drawing conclusions aimed at explaining and assessing the
situation found.
To reach our objectives, we formulated and tested a research hypothesis related to the
differences between audit :
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
326
Hypothesis H.1: The relevance of the audit and the users' understanding of the
groups auditors opinions on the consolidated financial statements are influenced by
the contracted and agreed type of the audit reports.
Hypothesis H.2: There are significant differences between auditors' opinions on the
consolidated financial statements resulting from the specific standard:
- International Auditing Standard ISA 700 "Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial
Statements"
- ISA 800 "Special Considerations-Audits of Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance with
Special Purpose Frameworks"
- International Standard on Related Services ISRS 4400 "Engagements to perform agreed-upon
procedures regarding financial information"
Theoretical background The interest of academic communities and of business environment in studying the audit of the
consolidated financial statements is largely manifested during the last years and is based especially
upon the social role of audit in an international context, dominated by profound reverberations of
macroeconomic volatility.
Significant dedicated literature upon the theme of audit quality was developed especially in the
last years and the favorite association is between the audit quality and the appropriate audit report
or/and the audit correct opinion on the financial statements (Neri and Russo, 2014; Elshafie and
Nyadroh, 2014; Chambers and Payne, 2011; Francis, 2011). Otherwise, this represents the main
assertion of our present work, regarding the direct correlation between the adequate audit opinion and
the audit quality, according to ISA 700, ISA 800 or ISRS 4400. Nowadays, debates on the audit reports
content are more actual than ever (Bedard et al., 2014), even the idea of content of disclosure items in
the audit reports is not new, but the ideas spread widely since the 2008 financial crisis.
Also, we remark the institutional context and the recent proposed changes to the International
Standards on Auditing (ISAs), related to the initiative of the International Auditing and Assurance
Standards Board (IAASB) to change in 2014 some relevant ISAs. The mentioned board approved in
March 2014 an Exposure Draft (ED), Proposed Changes to the International Auditing Standards
(ISAs)–Addressing Disclosures in the Audit of Financial Statements. This represents a complex essay
to promote disclosure, considering to be "a fundamental part of financial statements, seen as an
increasingly important way for preparers to communicate deeper insights about the entity’s financial
position and financial performance than is possible through the primary financial statements alone".
Table no. 1
Overview of the proposed changes and significant matters in the
International Auditing Standards ISAs
Proposed item International Auditing Standards ISAs
Clarifying the Meaning of Disclosures Proposed Change to ISA 200 Overall Objectives of the
Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in
Accordance with International Standards on Auditing
Guiding Auditors to Address Audit
Considerations Relating to Disclosures
Early in the Audit
Proposed Changes to
ISA 210 Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements
ISA 260 Communication with Those Charged with
Governance
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
327
Proposed item International Auditing Standards ISAs
ISA 300 Planning an Audit of Financial Statements
Identifying, Assessing and Responding
to Risks of Material Misstatement –
Disclosure Considerations
Proposed Changes to
ISA 240 The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud
in an Audit of Financial Statements
ISA 315 Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material
Misstatement through Understanding the Entity and Its
Environment
ISA 320 Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit
ISA 330 The Auditor’s Responses to Assessed Risks
Clarifying and Elaborating Expectations
of Auditor when Evaluating
Misstatements and Forming on Opinion
Proposed Changes to
ISA 450 Evaluation of Misstatements Identified during the
Audit
ISA 700 Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial
Statements
Author processing
Source:Proposed Changes to the International Auditing Standards (ISAs)–Addressing
Disclosures in the Audit of Financial Statements, 2014
National studies on the audit on the consolidated financial statements were scanty until few
years ago, based on the incipient development of the group of companies in our economy. We can
distinguish only few incipient papers in the domain, based on the national accounting and audit
changes at the beginning of 2000 (Tiron-Tudor, 2007), that explored the stage of audit standards and
practice in Romania. That period was characterised through the legislative initiatives in order to
establish the legal framework in audit (the compulsory audit for the companies that have accomplished
some criteria regarding to total assets, turnover and number of employees for the previous year). As the
economic environment was developed, the scientific papers have grown (but insignificantly) after
2000, when the stage of knowledge increased, based on the necessity to create the tools for the
accounting and auditing of the group companies. Disclosure behaviour of the group entities was a
major theme in that period of the developing of the first group companies in Romania (Tiron-Tudor,
2010). The author was interested in the material disclosure harmonization for consolidated financial
statements and found that for the period 2006-2008 there were only 14 Romanian entities from the first
Bucharest Stock Exchange category which should present annual and intermediary consolidated
financial statements. This suggests the basic stage of the developing of the groups listed companies in
the mentioned period 2006-2008. The same situation was maintained and in the 2009, when the
number of companies that disclosed their consolidated financial statements was lower (Tiron-Tudor
and Ratiu, 2010).
Recent national approach (Müller, 2014) underlined the importance of the IFRS adoption since
2005 for the listed companies on a stock exchange (European), that contributed to the increasing of the
consolidated statements quality (value relevance). A marginal theme of the consolidated financial
reporting, regarding to goodwill recognition in Romania was approached by Baltariu and Cirstea
(Baltariu and Cirstea, 2012), that proved a high degree of harmonization. An important contribution in
the accounting of the group companies and in the preparing of the consolidated financial statements
belong to Sedki, Smith and Strickland (Sedki et al., 2014), authors that emphasize the differences
between IFRS and GAAP.
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
328
Despite of the importance of the audit of the group of companies, the literature on the domain is
very scanty and the empirical studies insufficiently explore such main issue. In this context, our paper
intends to fill a gap in the theoretical delimitations and practices of the consolidated financial reporting
and auditing from Romania.
Regulatory aspects on the types of external audit engagements
Preparing of consolidated financial statements is included in the regulatory framework issued
nationwide, ie MFP Order nr.3055 / 2009 pt. 22 par. 1 "consolidated financial statements comprise the
consolidated balance sheet, consolidated profit and loss account and notes to the consolidated financial
statements. These documents constitute a whole” (par. 2). On consolidation procedures that are found
in this legislation we will not, because this part is exposed in an array of the empirical study on the
following pages. We note only that this section of the normative act is divided into three parts: the
consolidated balance sheet, consolidated profit and loss account and consolidated balance sheet
common provisions and profit and loss statement describing the methods of consolidation.Also, we
remark the opinion above “consolidatedfinancialstatements must beexclusivelypreparedaccordingtothe
International Financial ReportingStandards, withtheindicationthattherequirementregardingthe content
of paragraph 199 of IAS 1 shouldbeapplied in this case also. Thisprovisionshouldbeappliedeven for
theuncertaintiesassociatedtotheevaluationbase, especially of thetangibleassetsconsisting of
landsandbuildings, otherwise, thereis a major riskthe auditor of a component willnotdetect a deviation
in thefinancialinformation, whichcancause a significantdistortion of thegroup’sfinancialstatements”
(Tamas, Socol, 2011).
Regarding the types of regulations of engagement of the external auditor we will do next in a
tabular form a comparison of international norms (Table no. 2):
Table no. 2
Comparison of types of engagement of the external auditor to audit the consolidated financial
statements
ISRS 4400
”Engagements
to perform
agreed-upon
procedures
regarding
financial
information”
ISA 800
“Special
considerations
- Audits of
financial
statements
prepared in
accordance
with special
purpose
frameworks”
ISA 700
„Formulating
an opinion and
reporting on
financial
statements”
ISRE
2400
“Engagements
to Review
Historical
Financial
Statements”
ISA
600
“Special
considerations
- Audits of
group
financial
statements
(including the
work of
component
auditors)”
No insurance Wholesale
insurance, not
absolute
Absolute
insurance
Limited
insurance
Absolute
insurance
Report on
factual findings
Audit Report Audit Report Report review Audit Report
Letter of
commitment
Letter of
commitment
Letter of
commitment
Letter of
acceptance of
Letter of
commitment
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
329
(varies the
components of
the letter)
the mission
High materiality
threshold
Low materiality
threshold
Low materiality
threshold
Low
materiality
threshold
Determined
from the small
group
Independence is
not mandatory
Independence is
mandatory
Independence is
mandatory
Independence
is mandatory
Independence
is mandatory
Agreed
procedures
ISA ISA ISRE 2400 ISA
Low coverage High coverage High coverage Low coverage High coverage
Use of the report
is restricted
Use of the
report is
restricted
Use of the
report is
restricted
Use of the
report is
restricted
Use of the
report is
restricted
Optional:
evaluation of the
internal control
system, risk
determination,
etc.
Optional:
evaluation of the
internal control
system, risk
determination,
etc.
Optional:
evaluation of
the internal
control system,
risk
determination,
etc.
Optional:
evaluation of
the internal
control system,
risk
determination,
etc.
Optional:
evaluation of
the internal
control system,
risk
determination,
etc.
Source: Author processing
The theme of the study is: audit mission based on agreed procedures versus audit engagement
based on ISA 800 and ISA 600 700 on synthetic consolidated financial statements performed by an
independent auditor in SC ALPHA LLC, the parent company.
„In order to reveal the “trusty image” of the financial position, the assets, the liabilitiesand of the
performance of an entity, it is necessary to adopt, know, understand and/or to apply theorresponding
accounting policies” (Danescu et. al., 2012).
Mission requested and accepted by letter of commitment is to achieve certain procedures related
to preparation of consolidated financial statements, emphasizing the following items of interest to the
companies included in consolidation and Beneficiary (the Bank):
- Strengthening intra-group transactions, both those of a commercial nature and those of other
nature (namely groups of intra-group transactions accounts, creditors, various debtors, amounts due to
associates, etc);
- Strengthening intra-group capital accounts (the shareholdings that a company has in another or
more);
- Consolidation of profit and loss of income and expense by eliminating intra-group
transactions;
- A consolidated highlight of short-term debt (less than 1 year - credit lines plus current portion
of term loans leases plus current portion plus interest for 1 year) and long term (over one year portion
of the loan plus the portion over 1 year lease).
The commitment of the auditor therefore consisted in achieving agreed-upon procedures related
to consolidated financial statements and the presentation of items of common interest to companies in
the group and common financier (the Bank). This consolidated information is intended for companies
included in consolidation and the Bank, to be able to formulate their own conclusions based on
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
330
procedures performed by the auditor on lending indicators of the group, consisting mainly in: the level
of capitalization of the group, return group activities, short-term debt, long-term debt and leverage on
individual and total group.
The objective of this engagement was represented by performing consolidated financial
statements (without audit of individual financial statements) with highlighting of relevant information
to users, and the submission to beneficiaries of a report on the achievement of agreed procedures.
Starting from paragraph A26 of ISA 700 which “Under ISA 200, the auditor is not in his report
compliance with ISAs unless the auditor has complied with the requirements of ISA 200 and all other
ISAs relevant to the audit.
According to ISA 200 - pt. 18 – “ The Auditor must comply with all ISAs relevant to the audit.
An ISA is relevant to the audit when it is in place and the circumstances in which ISA addresses exist.
It also requires that “ The auditor must respect each requirement of an ISA unless, in the circumstances
of the audit, the entire ISA is not relevant or the requirement is not relevant because it is conditional
and the condition does not exist. In exceptional circumstances, the auditor may consider it necessary to
depart from a relevant requirement in an ISA by performing alternative audit procedures to achieve the
aim of that requirement.
To identify the type of mission and the relevant standards applicable, we made a comparative
situation including the most important aspects of the relevant standards applicable to the type of
mission requested, in accordance with Annex 1.
Conclusions and limitations of the research
The only standard that applies in the context of the mission is ISA 800 as it responds to
requirements of ISA 200 - pt. 18 (quoted above) in that the auditor should comply with all ISAs
relevant to the audit, and an ISA is relevant to the audit when it is in force, and the circumstances in
which ISA is addressed there. It also answers the requirement for the auditor to comply with each
requirement of an ISA unless, in the circumstances of the audit, the entire ISA is not relevant or the
requirement is not relevant because it is conditional and the condition does not exist. Also there are no
exceptional circumstances for which the auditor may consider it necessary to depart from a relevant
requirement in an ISA by performing alternative audit procedures to achieve the aim of that
requirement (see table ISA 600 paragraph responsibility).
Drawing conclusions:
Hypothesis H.1: The relevance of the audit and the users' understanding of the groups
auditors opinions on the consolidated financial statements are influenced by the contracted
and agreed type of the audit reports – is validated.
Hypothesis H.2: There are significant differences between auditors' opinions on the
consolidated financial statements resulting from the specific standard – is validated.
The limit of the research is the assumption that commitment has limited applicability as a
specific type of commitment, but the proposed method has the advantage of extending and on other
special engagements in which the question of relevant standards applied.
References 1. Baltariu C.A., Cirstea A., 2012. Harmonization of goodwill reporting practice in the
consolidated financial statements of Romanian groups, Annales Universitatis Apulensis,
Series Oeconomica, Vol. 14(2), pp. 311-319.
2. Bedard J., Gonthier-Besacier N., Schatt A., 2014. Cost and benefits of reporting key audit
matters in the audit report: The French experience, Working Paper, Laval University.
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
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3. Chambers D., Payne J., 2011. Audit quality and accrual persistence: evidence from teh Pre-
and Post-Sarbanes-Oxley periods, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 26(5), pp. 437-456.
4. Dănescu, T., Prozan, M., Dănescu, A. (2012) International Workshop „Advanced Research
and Trends in Accounting, Audit and Finance (IWAAF), Revista Annales Universitatis
Apulensis, series Oeconomica Alba Iulia, Vol. 14, Nr. 2, ISSN 1454-9409
5. Elshafie E., Nyadroh E., 2014. Are discretionary accruals a good measure od audit quality?,
Journal of Management Policy and Practice, Vol. 15(2), pp. 43-59.
6. Francis J.R., 2011. A Framework for Understanding and Researching Audit Quality,
Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, Vol. 30(2), pp. 125-152.
7. IAASB, Proposed Changes to the International Auditing Standards (ISAs)–Addressing
Disclosures in the Audit of Financial Statements, 2014, available at
http://www.ifac.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/IAASB-Disclosures-Exposure-
Draft.pdf.
8. Irimie (Popa) Emil, Span Georgeta Ancuta, Dumitru Madalina, Dumitru Valentin Florentin,
Filip Crina Loana Empirical study on the implications of qualitative factors in making
decisions related to the materiality level: the case of Romania, Economic Reserach, ISSN
1331-677X, 2013 Volume 26(4): 43-58
9. Morimoto R., Ash J., Hope C., 2005. Corporate social responsibility audit: From theory to
practice, Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 62, Issue 4, pp. 315-325.
10. Neri L., Russo A., 2014. A framework for audit quality: Critical Analysis, Business and
Management Review, Vol. 3(09), pp. 25-30.
11. Sedki S.S., Smith A., Strickland A., 2014. Differences and similarities between IFRS and
GAAP on inventory, revenue, recognition and consolidated financial statements, Journal of
Accounting and Finance, Vol. 14(2), pp. 120-123.
12. Tamas Szora A., Socol A., Audit of the consolidated financial statements - intricate aspects
based on Romanian regulatory statements, Finance Challenges of the Future Journal, Issue
13, Vol. 1, 2011
13. Tiron-Tudor A., 2007. Romanian accounting and audit reform in the way of accession into
the European Union, Scientific Papers of the University of Pardubice, series D, Faculty of
Economics and Administration, no. 11, pp. 143-158.
14. Tiron-Tudor A., 2010. Disclosure practices concerning consolidated financial statements of
Romanians groups of entities, Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science, no. 1,
pp. 601-606.
15. Tiron-Tudor A., Ratiu R.V., 2010. How transparent are companies listed on the Bucharest
Stock Exchange when disclose them consolidated financial statements?, Annales
Universitatis Apulensis, Series Oeconomica, Vol. 12(1), pp. 185-190.
16. MFP Order No.3055 of 29 October 2009 approving the Accounting Regulations in
accordance with European Directives, published in the Official Gazette No . 766 of 10
November 2009
17. International Financial Reporting Standards - IFRS : official rules issued from 1 January
2011 , Part A - Conceptual framework and provisions Publishing House , Bucharest, 2011
18. International Financial Reporting Standards - IFRS : official rules issued from 1 January
2011 , Part B - Documents accompanying standards , Publishing House , Bucharest, 2011
19. http://www.ifrs.org
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
332
Annex 1 Comparison of relevant standards applicable to the type of mission (ISA 600, ISA 800, ISRS 4400 and ISRE 2400)
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD ON
AUDITING 600
Response
mode
according to
the letter of
assignment
ISA 800 -
Special
purpose
financial
statements
(conformity
frame)
Response mode
according to
the letter of
assignment ISRS 4400
Response
mode
according
to the letter
of
assignment ISRE 2400
Response
mode
according to
the letter of
assignment
The objectives of the
auditor are:
(a) To determine
whether to act as auditor
of the financial
statements of the
Group; and
No; there is no
condition
(a) Mission
acceptance; Yes
The objective
of a mission
based on
agreed
procedures the
auditor is to
performing
related
procedures of
an audit nature
to which the
auditor, and
any third-party
entity entitled
agreed, and the
auditor's report
on factual
findings.
Yes; no
assurance is
expressed
The objective of a
review of financial
statements is to
enable the
practitioner to
determine
whether, on the
basis of
procedures which
do not provide all
the evidence
required in an
audit, noticed any
issue that causes
him to believe that
the financial
statements are not
prepared, in all
material in
accordance with
the applicable
financial reporting
The
requirement
does not fit in
terms of the
mission
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
333
framework
(negative
assurance).
(b) As the auditor of
the group financial
statements: No; there is no
condition
(b) Planning
and performing
of the mission;
and
Yes
- - - -
(i) To communicate
clearly with the
components auditors
about the scope and
timing of their work on
the financial
information
corresponding to
components and their
findings; and
Requirement is
not relevant
because it is
conditional and
the condition
does not exist
(c) Forming
an opinion and
reporting on
financial
statements.
Yes
- - - -
(ii) To obtain
sufficient appropriate
audit evidence on the
financial information of
the components and the
consolidation process to
express an opinion on
the extent to which the
group's financial
statements are prepared,
in all material respects,
in accordance with the
applicable financial
No; there is no
condition - - - - - -
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
334
reporting framework.
Resposibility
The group engagement
partner is responsible
for the management,
supervision and how to
conduct the group audit
engagement in
compliance with
professional standards
and applicable legal and
regulatory requirements,
and whether the
auditor's report that is
issued is appropriate in
the circumstances
In exceptional
circumstances,
the auditor may
consider it
necessary to
depart from a
relevant
requirement in
an ISA by
performing
alternative
audit
procedures to
achieve the aim
of that
requirement;
those
circumstances
don't exist;
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Is applied ISA
600. (paragraph
9 of ISA 800
Special
considerations).
The auditor
should ensure
with
representatives
of the entity
and usually
other specified
parties who
will receive
copies of the
report of
factual
findings, that
there is a clear
understanding
of agreed-upon
procedures and
conditions of
the mission
Yes
The practitioner
should plan and
perform the
review with an
attitude of
professional
skepticism
recognizing that
circumstances
may exist that
would result in
materially
misstated financial
statements.
The
requirement
does not fit in
terms of the
mission
Acceptance and
continuation
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
335
In applying ISA 220,
the group engagement
partner will determine
whether they can
reasonably obtain
sufficient appropriate
audit evidence in
relation to the
consolidation and
financial information of
the components
underlying the group
audit opinion.
Not applicable
In an audit of
special purpose
financial
statements, the
auditor shall
obtain an
understanding
related to: (a)
The purpose for
which the
financial
statements are
prepared; (b)
the targeted
users, (c) the
steps taken by
management to
determine
whether the
frame financial
reporting is
acceptable in
the
circumstances
Yes. ISA 210
(section 6
letters) requires
the auditor to
determine the
acceptability of
the financial
reporting
framework
applied in
preparing the
financial
statements
(compliance
framework)
Independence
is not a
requirement for
agreed-upon
procedures
based missions;
however, the
terms or
objectives of a
mission or
national
standards may
require the
auditor to
comply with
the
independence
requirements of
the Code of
Ethics for
Professional
Accountants
issued by the
IFAC
Yes
A letter of
assignment
confirms that the
practitioner
accepts the
appointment and
helps avoid
misunderstanding
regarding matters
as the objectives
and the scope of
the mission,
responsibilities of
the practitioner
and form of
reports to be
issued.
Yes
Terms of the mission
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
336
The group engagement
partner shall agree the
terms of the group audit
mission
Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
It is applied ISA
210, "Agreeing
the terms of
audit,"
paragraph 6 (a)
and paragraph 9.
Items to be
included in the
letter of
assignment
include: listing
of procedures
to be performed
as agreed upon
between the
parties;
statement that
the distribution
of the report of
factual findings
will be
restricted to the
specified
parties who
have agreed to
the procedures
to be performed
Yes
Issues that will be
contained in the
letter of
assignment
include: The
objective of the
service that is
provided.
Management's
Responsibility for
the Financial
Statements. The
scope of the
review, including
references to the
International
Standard on
Review
Engagements
2400 (ISRE 2400
or standards or
relevant national
practices);
Unrestricted
access to any
books, documents
and other infor
mation required in
connection with
the review; A
sample report is
expected to be
Yes
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
337
taught; The fact
that it is not
certain that the
mission will
present illegal acts
or other non-
gularităţi, for
example, fraud or
defalcations that
may exist; A
statement that is
not conducted an
audit will be
Matte expressing
an audit opinion.
To emphasize this
and to avoid
confusion, the
practitioner may
also emphasize
that the review
mission will not
meet legal
requirements or
required by others
in the audit.
The overall audit
strategy and audit
plan
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
338
The group engagement
team will establish an
overall audit strategy
and the group will
develop an audit plan at
the group level
No
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
ISA 200
requires the
auditor to
comply with all
ISAs relevant to
the audit,
paragraph 9 and
18
The auditor
should plan the
work so as to
effectively
carry out a
mission
Yes
The practitioner
should plan the
work so as to
make an effective
mission
Yes
Understanding the
group, its components
and the environments
in which they operate
The auditor should
identify and assess the
risks of material
misstatement through
understanding the entity
and its environment
Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
It is applied ISA
600
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
necessary in the
circumstances in
order to achieve
the objective
review. The
procedures
required to
conduct a review
of financial
statements should
be determined by
the practitioner,
taking into
account the
requirements of
this ISRE,
relevant
professional
bodies, legislation
and regulations
Da
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
339
and, where
appropriate,
review the terms
of the engagement
and reporting
requirements .
There are no
provisions in
ISRE 2400;
Understanding the
component auditor No
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Not applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRE 2400;
Not
applicable
Materiality threshold
The group engagement
team shall determine
materiality threshold for
the group financial
statements as a whole
when establishing the
overall audit strategy at
group level
No
In the case of
special purpose
financial
statements, as
those prepared
in accordance
with the
requirements of
a contract,
management
may agree with
the intended
users on a
threshold below
which
misstatements
Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
The practitioner
should apply the
same materiality
considerations as
applied when
expresses an audit
opinion on the
financial
statements
Yes
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
340
identified in an
audit will not be
corrected or
otherwise
adjusted. The
existence of
such a threshold
does not relieve
the auditor of
the requirement
to determine
materiality
threshold in
accordance with
ISA 320 for
planning and
conducting the
audit special
purpose
financial
statements.
Response to Assessed
Risks
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
341
The auditor should
design and implement
appropriate responses to
the treatment of
assessed risks of
material misstatement
of the financial
statements
Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
It is applied ISA
330 "Auditor
Response to
Assessed Risks"
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
If the practitioner
has reason to
believe that the
information
subject to review
may be materially
misstated, he
should perform
additional or more
extensive
procedures as
necessary in order
to express
negative assurance
or to confirm the
need for a
modified report
Yes
Determining the type
of activity to be
performed on the
financial information
of the component
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
342
An audit of one or more
account balances,
classes of transactions
or disclosures in
relation to the likely
significant risks of
material misstatement
of the financial
statements of the group
(significant component)
Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
It is applied ISA
600
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
The procedures
required to
conduct a review
of financial
statements should
be determined by
the practitioner,
taking into
account the
requirements of
this ISRE,
relevant
professional
bodies, legislation
and regulations
and, where
appropriate,
review the terms
of the engagement
and reporting
requirements .
Yes
The group engagement
team will conduct
analytical procedures at
group level (for
components that are not
significant)
It is applied ISA
600
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
Involvement in the
work of component
auditors No
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Cerinta nu este
relevanta
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRE 2400;
Not
applicable
Consolidation process
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
343
The group engagement
team obtains an
understanding of
controls at group level
and the consolidation
process, including
instructions issued by
group management to
components
Yes - only in
terms of the
consolidation
process
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
It is applied ISA
600
Through
assimilation,
the group
engagement
team obtains an
understanding
of the
consolidation
process,
including
instructions
issued by group
management to
components
Da
There are no
provisions in
ISRE 2400;
It is applied
ISA 600
regarding the
consolidation
process
Subsequent events
The group engagement
team will develop
procedures to identify
events relating to those
components that occur
between the dates of the
financial information of
the components and the
date the auditor's report
on the financial
statements of the Group,
which could lead to the
need to adjust the
presentation of the
financial statements of
the Group or the
adjustment thereof. Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
It is applied ISA
600 and ISA
560 subsequent
events
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
The practitioner
must investigate
events after the
financial s situaţi-
may involve
adjustment or
disclosure in the
financial
statements.
The practitioner
has no
responsibility in
performing
procedures to
identify events
occurring after the
date rapor-ment
Da
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
344
Review.
Communication with
the component auditor No
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Not applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRE 2400;
Not
applicable
To assess the
sufficiency and
appropriateness of
audit evidence
obtained
No
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
The provisions
of ISA 600 and
ISA 500 Audit
Evidence are
applied
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRE 2400;
The
provisions of
ISA 600 and
ISA 500
Audit
Evidence are
applied
Communication with
group management
and those charged
with governance of the
group Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Not applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRE 2400;
It is applied
ISA 600
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
345
Documentation. The
group engagement
team shall include in
the audit
documentation the
following:
Not applicable
The auditor
should
document
matters which
are important in
providing
evidence to
support the
report of
factual
findings, and
evidence that
the mission was
carried out in
accordance
with this ISRS
and the terms
of the
engagement
auditor should
perform
procedures
agreed upon
and use the
evidence
obtained as the
basis for the
report of
factual findings
Yes
The practitioner
should document
matters which are
important in
providing
evidence to
support the review
report and
evidence that the
review was
conducted in
accordance with
this standard.
Yes
(a) Analysis of
components, indicating
those that are Yes
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Not applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable -
Not
applicable
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
346
significant, and the type
of activities performed
on the financial
information of the
components.
(b) The nature, timing
and extent of the group
engagement team's
involvement in the work
performed by auditors
of components on
significant components
including, where
appropriate, the review
by the group
engagement team of the
relevant parts of the
components auditors'
audit documentation
and conclusions related. No
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Not applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
-
Not
applicable
(c) written
communications
between the group
engagement team and
the components auditors
about the group
engagement team's
requirements. No
There are no
provisions in
ISA 800;
Not applicable
There are no
provisions in
ISRS 4400;
Not
applicable
-
Not
applicable
Specific issues
summarized in the
auditor's report
Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 16(2), 2014, 324-347
347
A statement that the
procedures performed
are meant to express an
absolute assurance
Yes
A statement that
the procedures
performed are
meant to
express a high
assurance, not
absolute
Yes
A statement
that the
procedures
performed do
not constitute
either an audit
or review and
therefore not
expressed any
insurance
Yes
A statement that
the procedures
performed are
reviewed and
therefore
expressed a
negative assurance
The
requirement
does not fit in
terms of the
mission